Welcome to the Collaborative OcularMelanoma Quality Of Life Study

The Quality of Life Study was added as a component of the COMS in 1995.
It is designed to measure the effect of choroidal melanoma on health- and
vision- related quality of life and to determine whether quality of life
differs in patients who are treated by radiation (I-125 plaque)
versus enucleation (removal of the eye).

There are two parts to the Quality of Life Study

Prospective Study

From January 1995 through July 1998, newly diagnosed patients
with medium-sized tumors who enrolled in the COMS were
eligible to enroll in the QOLS. They had their
first quality of life interview before they were randomized
to treatment.

In addition to this baseline interview, patients are interviewed
6 months after enrollment and treatment, and once each year
from then on, around the time of the anniversary of their enrollment

Cross-sectional Study

Starting in 1997, patients who where diagnosed with choroidal melanoma
and enrolled in the COMS trial for medium-sized tumors prior to 1995,
and patients who enrolled after 1995 but elected not to participate
in the QOLS at that time, were invited to participate in the QOLS
Cross-sectional study.

These patients are interviewed once each year around the time
of the anniversary of their enrollment in the COMS.